Screw conveyer



Aug. 11, '1931. T. ELLIOT T 1,818,055

SCREW CONVEYER Filed May 9, 1930 INVENTOR Thomas Elliott I B'Y VV/TNESSATTORN EYS 'ing.

Patented Aug. 11, 1931 tulle FFECE THOIIIASEIJLIOTT, BIRMINGHAM,ALABAMA, ASSIGNOE 'IO CONTINENTAL GIN COM- PANY, A. CORPORATION OFDELAVTAR-E SCREW GONVEYER Application filed May 8,

My invention relates to screw conveyers, iore particularly to screwconveyers having side discharge opening, and has for its object theprovision of an improved overflow means operable upon the congestion ofmaterial at the discharge opening to relieve the conveyer of any excessmaterial.-

A further object of my invention is to provide in a vertical screwconveyer an improved discharge element operable under normal conditionsto eject material elevated by the conveyer througl'i the side dischargeopening and which shall automatically operate under abnormal conditionsto eject excess material through the overflow discharge.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a rotary dischargeelement on the upper end of a vertical screw conveyer shaft which shallbe releasably engaged by the shaft, and which shall be adapted to beraised by an excess of material being elevated to its overflow positionin which it again engages the shaft and operates to discharge materialthrough the overflow open- Briefiy, my invention comprises a screwconveyer having a casing with a side discharge and a bladed dischargeelement mounted on the conveyershaft and adapted to function as a valveand to eject material outwardly through the side opening. The bladeddischarge element is adapted to be moved by an excess of materiallongitudinally on the shaft to a position in front of an overflowopening in the casing arranged beyond the side discharge opening. Clutchmeans are provided which cooperate with the discharge element to rotateit in either position. When in its normal position, the dischargeelement acts to close oif and prevent the discharge of material throughthe overflow opening.

The single figure of the drawing, forming a part of this application,shows in vertical cross section, a screw conveyer embodying myinvention.

Referring to the drawing for a better und standing of my invention, Ishow a screw conveyer embodying a rotary helical flight 10 and aconveyer shaft 11. Sun

1930. Serial N0. 451,128.

rounding the conveyer is a casing 12 hav- 2 ing a side discharge opening13. Disposed above the side discharge opening 13 is an overflow opening14 for carrying away excess material.

Loosely mounted upon the conveyer shaft i is a rotary discharge element16 having a hub with portions 17 and 18, respectively, extending aboveand below the discharge element. The dischar e element 16 preferablyprovided with blades 19, which, in rotation, throw the material radiallyout ward through the discharge opening 13. The upper end of thedischarge element is provided with a plate 20 which serves to preventthe longitudinal passage of material thereby when the element is in itslower position, as seen in thedrawing.

The lower hub portion 18 is provided with a vertical notch 21 which isadapted to be engaged by a pin 22 carried by the shaft 11 when thedischarge element 16 is in its lower position. When an excess ofmaterial is being conveyed, or more than can conveniently pass outthrough the side opening 13, the discharge element 16 is raised, by thepressure of the excess material, along the shaft 11 until it assumes itsupper position indicated in dotted lines before the overflow opening 14.In this position, a pin 23 carried by the shaft 11 is adapted to engagewith a vertical notch 24 formed in the hub portion 17 to rotate'thedischarge element 16 in its upper position and eject material throughthe overflow opening 14. At the same time, of course, considerablematerial is being discharged through the discharge opening 13. As soonas the conveyer is again operating at normal capacity, the dischargeelement moves by gravity to its lower position, as shown in the drawing,to be reengaged by the pin 22 and discharge material through the opening13.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improveddischarge means for screw conveyers adapted to dis charge the materialthrough a side opening in the conveyer casing, and also adapted uponpressure of excess material to 11 5 a discharge of the material throughan additional overflow opening.

\Vhile I have shown by invention in but one form, it will be obvious tot skilled in the art that it is not so limitee, but is susceptible ofvarious changz es and monitications, without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, tl'iercfc-re, that only such limitations shall beplaced, hercnp-in'i as are imposed by the prior art or as arespecifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a screw conveyer apparatus, as cas' ing having a side dischargeopening and be yond same an overflow opening, and a biased overflowvalve normally interposed between said openings and movable respon siveto abnormal ressure of material in said casing to permit the dischargeof same through said overflow openin 2. In a screw conveyer apparatus, aconveyer casing having a discharge opening and an overflow openingbeyond the discharge opening in the direction of material beingconveyed, a conveyor shaft, a biased discharge element releasablyengaged by the conveyor shaft in front of the discharge opening, saiddischarge element being adapted to be moved to a position in front ofthe overflow opening by the pressure of an excess of material againstit, and means for engaging the discharge element with the shaft in frontof the overflow opening.

3. In a screw conveyer apparatus, a conveyer casing having a dischargeopening and an overflow opening beyond the discharge opening in thedirection of material being conveyed, a conveyer shaft, a bladeddischarge element loosely mounted on the conveyer shaft in front of thedischarge opening and adapted to be moved to a position in front of theoverflow opening by the pressure of an excess of material against it,clutch means cooperating etween the bladed discharge element and theshaft for rotating the discharge element in front of the dischargeopening, and other clutch means adapted to engage the discharge elementand shaft to rotate it when moved to a position in front of the overflowopenin 4. In a vertical screw conveyer ap )aratus, a conveyer casinghaving a discharge opening near its upper end and an overflow openingabove the discharge opening, a conveyer shaft, a bladed dischargeelement loosely mounted on the conveyer shaft in front of the dischargeopening and adapted to be moved by pressure of excess material toaposition in front of the overflow opening, and clutch means cooperatingbetween the discharge element and the shaft to rotate the dischargeelement in either position.

5. In a vertical screw conveyer apparatus, a conveyer casing having adischarge opening near its upper end and an overflow opening above thedischarge opening, a conveyer shaft, a bladed discharge element looselymounted on the conveyer shaft in front of the discharge opening andadapted to be moved by pressure of excess material to a position infront of the overflow opening, a hub for the bladed element extendingoutwardly therefrom on both sides thereof, said hub having notchestherein at both ends thereof, a pin carried by the shaft in front of thedischarge opening to engage the notches on the lower end of the hub andeffect rotation of the discharge element in its lower position, and asecond pin carried by the upper end of the shaft in front of theoverflow opening to engage the notches in the upper end of the hub androtate the discharge element in front of the overflow opening.

(3. In a screw conveyer apparatus, a conveyer casing haviz Y a dischargeopening and an overflow opening beyond, the discharge opening in thedirectimi of material being eonvq aha conveyer shaft, a biased dischargeelement releasably engaged by the conveyor shaft in front of thedischarge opening, said discharge element being adapted to be moved to aposition in front of the overflow opening by the pressure of an excessof material against it, means for engaging the discharge element withthe shaft in front of the overflow opening, and means included in saiddischarge element to close off the overflow opening when said dischargeelement is in front of the discharge opening.

7. In a screw conveyer apparatus, a conveyer casing having a dischargeopening and an overflow opening beyond the discharge opening in thedirection of material being conveyed, a conveyer shaft, a bladeddischarge element loosely mounted on the conveyer shaft in front of thedischarge opening and adapted to be moved to a position in front of theoverflow opening by the pressure of an excess of material against it,clutch means cooperating between the bladed discharge element and theshaft for rotating the discharge element in front of the dischargeopening, other clutch means adapted to en gage the discharge element andshaft to rotate it when moved to a position in front of the overflowopening, and a plate extending transversely of the casing and formingthe outer end of the bladed discharge element.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS ELLIOTT.

